Process for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing

ABSTRACT

A process for folding a shirt or similar article of clothing is disclosed wherein the skirt is placed front down on a table, and an insert having a hole therethrough adjacent one end is placed on the back of the shirt adjacent to the neck portion. The skirt is then folded longitudinally such that the shoulder portions are adjacent the hole through the insert. A clip is inserted through the hole and over the folded shoulder portions to retain same in place. The shirt is then folded transversely such that a lower portion overlies the folded shoulder portions. Additional clips are inserted over the lower and shoulder portions to maintain the shirt in a folded condition over the insert.

United States Patent n 1 Knappe et al.

[ PROCESS FOR FOLDING SHIRTS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING I75] Inventors: Heinrich Knappe, Eidinghausen;

Karl Heinz Notle. Vlotho; Reinhold Kempelmann, Bad Salzuflen all of Germany [73] Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser Kommanditgesellschaft, Vlotho/Weser, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 52LI20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS H73 9S4 X/l932 Cooper 223/37 June 24, 1975 3 258.l8l 6/l966 Peters 223/7l Primary Etaminr-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Sughrue. Rothwell, Mion, Zinn and Macpeak l 5 7 I ABSTRACT A process for folding a shirt or similar article of clothing is disclosed wherein the skirt is placed front down on a table. and an insert having a hole therethrough adjacent one end is placed on the back of the shirt adjacent to the neck portion. The skirt is then folded longitudinally such that the shoulder portions are adjacent the hole through the insert. A clip is inserted through the hole and over the folded shoulder portions to retain some in place. The shirt is then folded transversely such that a lower portion overlies the folded shoulder portions. Additional clips are inserted over the lower and shoulder portions to maintain the shirt in a folded condition over the insert.

I Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN24 m5 SHEET PATENTEUJUN 24 ms 3 8 91 12 9 sum 1 PROCESS FOR FOLDlNG SHIRTS 0R SlMlLAR ARTICLES ()F CLOTHING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for folding and more particularly. for preparing shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing by means of apparatus wherein a plurality of folding devices are adapted to rotate in synchronism and each shirt or similar article of clothing placed on these folding devices is folded in the course of its step-by-step processing about a cardboard insert and fastened so that it does not come apart.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the above-mentioned known process. the shirt or similar article of clothing which is folded about a cardboard insert is manually fastened so that it does not fall apart by means of pins and U-shaped clips. The shoulder and sleeve sections of the shirt or similar article of clothing. in particular, are pinned and only the side and sleeve sections of the article are fastened by means of clips. the U-shaped clips being pushed from the longitudinal side of the cardboard insert onto the shirt or similar article of clothing. with the cardboard inserted therebetween.

Mechanical pinning and clipping of a shirt or similar article of clothing in the above manner about a cardboard insert is. for various reasons. either not possible or not advantageous within the framework of the process mentioned initially. In addition. the means employed according to the known process such as cardboard inserts. pins and U-shaped clips are unsuitable or disadvantageous for mechanically fastening articles of clothing so that they do not fall apart. For example. it is impossible to supply the pins and insert them in the shirt or similar article of clothing at the spot at which the article is to be fastened by means of mechanical devices and the U-shaped clips can only be mechanically pushed onto the shirt or similar article of clothing with great difficulty.

The above-mentioned U-shaped clips for the manual clipping operation possess two arms of different lengths exerting a clamping action by their inherent tension. The end of the shorter arm is outwardly bent upwards and the inner sides of the arms are provided with undulating projections in the region where they are closest to each other. These U-shaped clips are made of plastic material and have a transparent appearance. The clips are accordingly translucent. They also possess the same width over their entire length. An embodiment of a clip of this type is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3.462.809.

In German OS 2.153.157. a U-shaped clip is described which is not only suitable for manual operations but also for mechanical fastening operations. This clip possesses two arms of equal length exerting a clamping action by their inherent tension. The ends of the arms are outwardly bent upwards to such an extent that the outer edges of the same lie in the same plane as the outer faces of the remaining arm parts coordi natetl therewith. the aforementioned planes being arranged in parallel. The upwardly bent ends of the arms are substantially broader then the remaining parts of the arms. In addition. the inner sides of the arms are denticulated in the region where they are closest togcthcr. The clips are made of plastic material. A partieular disadvantage of mechanically pushing this U- shaped clip onto a folded shirt or similar article of clothing is that the upwardly bent ends of the arms are substantially broader than the remaining part of the arms so that it is difficult to mechanically guide the same to the spot to be clipped and this can only be ef fected by means of complicated devices. This constitutes the reason why these U-shaped clips and the devices described in the above-mentioned German Offenlegungsschrift (delivery unit and guide track) have not yet been used in practice.

German Gebrauchsmuster L8] L063 describes a clip belonging to the U-shaped clip group which is designed for hanging laundered clothing on washing lines. The inner sides of the arms of this clip have interlocking teeth obliquely directed towards the rear part of the same. However. on account of its shape, this clip is otherwise unsuitable for clipping shirts or similar articles of clothing which have just been manufactured.

It is also known to provide holes of varying shapes and sizes at various points in the above-mentioned cardboard inserts. This is done for various reasons and makes it possible, inter alia. to manually pin by means of pins the folded shirt or similar article of clothing to prevent it from coming apart.

The known cardboard inserts also have the disadvan tagc that they can only be mechanically lifted with difficulty piece by piece from a stack consisting of a plurality of cardboard inserts. more particularly. by means of so-called suction cups. and thereafter conveyed to the folding devices owing to the fact that the cardboard in serts in the pile tend to stick together as a result of being stacked on top of one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a process and means in the form of a cardboard insert and a U-shaped clip with which it is possible. within the framework of the basic process mentioned initially. to fasten shirts or similar articles of clothing in a more advantageous manner than hitherto, more particularly. mechanically. and to fasten them in an especially advantageous manner so that they do not come apart.

The proposed cardboard insert should also be constructed in such a way that it can be raised from a stack by means of so-called suction cups without one or more additional cardboard inserts being raised at the same time.

The U-shaped clip to be proposed should also be designed in such a way that photoelectric sensing devices. for example. photocells are actuated when they pass by the same.

The process according to the invention is characterized in that the shirt to be folded about the cardboard insert is secured against coming apart on the collar side of the same by the mechanical insertion of clips on the part of the same resting on the rear side of the cardboard insertv By means of this process it is possible to fasten together a shirt or similar article of clothing in the course of step-by-step folding operations in a more advantageous manner than hitherto. namely mechanically. and in an especially advantageous form. This is especially advantageous. inter alia. because by fastening the article on the end where the collar is located. the mechani' cal expenditure required for this process and the control problems associated therewith are relatively minor.

In addition. it is suhstantiall easier to IttLLltiltllCilll) push clips into place than to lllL'LllittllCitll insert pins if this is e\en possihle.

lt is also ad\antagcous if one of the clips is pushed onto the article in such a wa that the two lengthwise folded lateral shoulder parts of the shirt in the region of the slee\e connections are fastened h clips with the cardhoa d inserted therehetneen. preferahlt after the shirt has heen folded lengthwise hut still has to he folded crosswise. and if two clips are inserted in such a was that the two lengthwise folded lateral shoulder parts of the shirt and the lengthwise and crosswise folded lower part of the same located in the region of the shoulder parts are fastened without including the cardhoard insert.

l hesc duelopmcnts of the process according to the iinention are adtantageous. inter alia. liecause the part of the folded shirt or similar article of clothing which rests on the rear side of the cardhoard insert. more particularl the part of the article of clothing lo cated in the upper region ofthe eardhoard insert. is fastened using a minimum ofclips and at an advantageous point during the process It is also adutiitageous for the cardhoard insert to possess a hole in the region in which the shirt is fastened h v means of a clip with the cardboard inserted therehetween. The hole in the cardhoard insert is prel erahl) round in shape and has a diameter of approsi' matel 30*. mm. This is an ad\antagc hecause it enahles the part of the folded shirt or similar article of clothing located in the central part of the cardhoard insert. for example. the lateral shoulder parts of the same. to he fastened h) clips with the cardhoard inserted therehetween.

It is also advantageous if a plurality of smaller ltolcs are uniformly distrihuted over the remaining part of the cardboard insert. Preferahl ahout lt) round holes hav ing a diameter of approximately Xlt) nun are provided. lhis is adiantageous because it enahles stacked cardhoard inserts to he supplied individually to the folding devices hy so-called suction cups in a reliahle manner. B providing hoth the smaller holes and the larger hole or holes for the insertion of the clips with the eardhoard inserted therehetween. air can immedi atel penetrate hetween a cardhoard insert and the insert located hencath it when the first insert is raised. thereby preventing the insert located heneath it from being removed at the same time.

It is also an advantage to use a l -shaped clip which is eharacteri/ed h the combination of the following features which are known per se: two arms of equal length exerting a clamping action h their inherent ten sion and the ends of which are outwardl hent upwards to such an estent that the outer edges of the same are located in the same plane as the outer surfaces of the remaining arm parts coordinated therewith. the planes are located parallel to one another. the inner sides of the arms are dentieulated in the region in which the are closest to one another. the clips are uniforml hroad o er their entire length. preferahl heing (1.5 nnn in hreadth. [his form of l -shaped clip is espeeiall advantageous hecause these clips can he mechanic-all supplied to the parts of the shirt or similar article of clothing to he fastened and can he pushed onto the e parts h means of relati\el simple de\ice l'hus. it is possihle. using canit resonator operating h the micro proiecting process firstl to insert the clips in series (ill into commerciallt .oailahle rectangular tithes. se condh to push the clip l emg eon\c \ed to the parts to he clipped in the alorementioned rectangular tuhes onto the parts of the article to he fastened h the clips h means of simple and relati\el reliahle de\ices. for esaniple. pneumatic working cylinders.

It is also adumtageous if the aformentioned L'- shaped clips are made of opaque plastic. l his is an ad \antage. fu'stl hecause it cnahles the clips to he manufactured eeonomicalh and secondl hecause the minement of the clip or pluralit of clips heing supplied in the afore mentioned rectangular tubes can he monitored In means of simple and relativel reliahle dc \ices namel h means of photoelectric sensing elements.

It is also aduuitageous for the clips to he constructed in such a wa that the dentieulations on the inner side of the arms are in the form of san teeth. the tips of the teeth heing directed towards the rear inner part of the clip. lltis constitutes an adtantage firstly because this allows the clips to he pushed easil onto the parts ofthe article to he fastened and seeondl hecause it renders the clips difficult to remove and. in particular. it prevents the clip from springing hack ifit is eserting a rela ti\el potterful fastening tension ()ther ohiects. features and .uhantages of the process according to the iinention and the means for effecting the same ill he made apparent from the follou ing description of preferred emhodinients thereof protided with reference to the accompaining drawings.

BRllil" DISCRIPI'IUN ()l- 'l'Hl-I DRAWINGS ll(i. shows a front \ie\\ of a shirt folded ahout a eardhoard insert and fastened according to the invention.

Fl(i. 2 shows a rear \ie\\' of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 shows a cardboard insert comprising a hole for fastening the two lateral shoulder parts of a shirt in the region of the slee\e connections with the cardboard inserted therehetweeir Fl(i. 4 shows a eardhoard insert as disclosed in FIG. 3 comprising additional uniformly distributed smaller holes.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a section along the line A -A in l"l(i. 1.

MG. 6 is an enlarged iew ofthe l'-shaped clip shown in HUS. l 2 and 5.

ll(i. 7 is a side \ie\\ of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a device for supplying the L'-shaped clips represented in the preceding figures.

The reference numhers designate the following:

Ill-l I shirt (folded and prepared for paekingl um eardhoard insert l0l clip (l'-shapedt 102 hole in I00 (for fastening Ill-l with 100 hi serted therehetneen t 103 hole in "NI Ill-J arm of NH HIS end of I04 106 outer edge of I05 108 outer face of I04 I09 7 inner side of Ill-1 llll' denticulation of I09 111 rear inner part of I01 Ill rectangular tuhe H3 A photoelectric sensing element 114 transmitter of H3 115 receiver of 114 bear saw teeth in the region in which they are closest 116 light beam of 113 to each other such that the tips of the denticulations 117 hole in 112 110 are directed towards the rear inner part 111 of the l18=yoke of 101 clip 119 outer face of 118 5 Owing to the fact that the planes 120, 121 or 122, 120 123 planes 123 at the outer edges or faces ofthe U-shaped clip 10] 124, 125 sides of 101. represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 are parallel and at right angles to one another and that the sides 124, 125 of the DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED same are parallel to one another and at right angles to EMBODIMENTS [Q the planes 120 123, the clip 10] can be conveyed in FIGS. 1 and 2 give an idea of the appearance of the commercially available rectangular tubes or the like in shirt 10-1 folded about the cardboard insert 100 and series and/or on top of one another. The term transfastened according to the invention to prevent it from portable in series means, for example, that the clips can coming apart, namely by the mechanical insertion of also be transported in a single-sided, partially open,

clips 10] onto the part of the shirt located on the rear rectangular tube 112 (FIG. 8).

side of the cardboard insert 100. FIG. 3 shows the FIG. 8 also shows how the movement of the clip andshape of the cardboard insert 100 about which the shirt /or plurality of clips being transported in the rectangu- 10-1 represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is folded and prelar tube 112 can be monitored by a photoelectric senspared for packing. ing element 113 consisting of a transmitter 114 and a FIG. 5 shows how the shoulder parts of the shirt 10-1 receiver 115.

are held by clips in the region of the sleeve connections As the rectangular tube 112 is only partially open on with the cardboard 100 inserted therebetween. the upper side, a hole has been made in the wall of the FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 also show the position of the hole lower iside of the same so that if there are no clips 101 102 in the cardboard insert 100. This hole is provided in the rectangular tube, the light beam 116 from the so that the shoulder parts of the shirt 10-1 can be fastransmitter 114 passes to the receiver 115. It is a tened by means of clips in the region of the sleeve conprerequisite for this advantageous method of monitornections with the cardboard 100 inserted therebeing the process that the clips 101 are impervious to tween. The lower edge of the hole 102 which is approxlight.

imately 35 mm in diameter is arranged generally at Thus, the U-shaped clip 101 according to the inventhe point of intersection of the folded shoulder sec- 30 tion not only makes it possible to mechanically fasten tions, but preferably about 5 mm below this intersecthe folded shirt 10-1 so that it does not come apart tion point. using relatively simple devices but it also enables reli- FIG. 4 shows a cardboard insert 100 such as the one able mechanical controlling of these devices if it is shown in FIG. 3 but which is provided with additional made of material which is impervious to light. uniformly distributed small holes 103 which are neces- What is claimed is:

sary to enable stacked cardboard inserts 100 to be sup- 1. A process for folding shirts or similar articles of plied individually to folding devices which are not repclothing for packing wherein the shirt is placed front resented by means of suction cups which are also not down on a table, comprising the steps of: represented. The ten holes 103 which are shown are a. placing a rigid insert on the back of the shirt adjaapproximately 8-10 mm in diameter. cent the neck portion of the shirt, said insert having The U-shaped clip 10] which is represented on an at least one opening therethrough; enlarged scale in FIGS. 6 and 7 has two arms 104 of b. folding said shirt longitudinally about said insert equal length which exert a clamping action by their insuch that the shoulder portions of said shirt are adherent tension. The ends 105 ofthe arms are outwardly jacent to the opening through said insert; bent upwards to such an extent that the outer edges c. inserting a first clip through said opening in said 106 of the same are located in the same planes 120, insert and over said shoulder portions so as to re- 121 as the outer faces 108 of the remaining arm parts tain said shoulder portions in position with respect coordinated therewith; the two planes 120, 121 being to said insert; parallel to each other. The outer edges 106 of the up- (1. folding said shirt transversely such that a lower wardly bent ends 105 also lie in a plane 122 which is portion ofsaid shirt overlies said shoulder portions; and at right angles to the two parallel planes 120, 121 and e. inserting at least a second clip over said lower porparallel to a plane 123 against which the outer face 119 tion and said shoulder portions of said shirt to reof the yoke 118 abuts. tain the lower portion in its folded position.

The inner sides 109 of the arms 104 of the clips 101 

1. A process for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing wherein the shirt is placed front down on a table, comprising the steps of: a. placing a rigid insert on the back of the shirt adjacent the neck portion of the shirt, said insert having at least one opening therethrough; b. folding said shirt longitudinally about said insert such that the shoulder portions of said shirt are adjacent to the opening through said insert; c. inserting a first clip through said opening in said insert and over said shoulder portions so as to retain said shoulder portions in position with respect to said insert; d. folding said shirt transversely such that a lower portion of said shirt overlies said shoulder portions; and e. inserting at least a second clip over said lower portion and said shoulder portions of said shirt to retain the lower portion in its folded position. 